Ice-loading apparatus



March l2, 1929,

M. J. GARVEY` JR., ET A1.

I CE LOADING APPARATU S Filed Jan. 31, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet ,gn/unten 5% 57 M/c/vae/ Gora Franc/LS 'Si/77,05 33# m4 Mw atto: um!

Miildll 12, 1,929 M. J. GARVEY, JR., ET Al.J 1,705,010

ICE LOADING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 51, 1927 4 sheets-sheet abbot mi March 12, 1929 M. J. GARVEY, JR., ET AL l,705,010

I CE LOADI NG APPARATUS Filed Jan. 31, 192? 4 sheetssheet 3 me/nto@ March l2, 1929.

M. J. GARVEY, JR.. ET AL I CE LOADI NG APPARATUS Filsfeld Jan. 51, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet v//l/l/i) l/A (1451501 weg VISIS Patented Mar. 12, 1929.

insole UNITED STATES PAT am" oriFicE.

MICHAELJ. survey, JR.; Ann FRANCIS e. siivirsoii, orsr. Jessen, iviissonm.

CE-LQADING APPARATUS.

yApplicativifiled Januar-5131, 1927. Serial No. 164,960.

`The present invention relates 4te improveneients in ice handling apparatus 'and more particularly to an 'apparatus Afor loading `:ice frein .a `carrier truck to an clevated'iposition for icing refrigerator cars'.

u Une of the objectsolthe invention is the provi-sion osi' an apparat-:us adapted toia- .te the elevation of ice yblocxs iii-oni the ci i'ventional type of carr-iertiuck to platiorni arranged innnediately 'above the ice coinp artinen-ts o refrigerator cars.

A l"ui-ther obfect yoi? :the invention is th provision oi ia collapsible iframe structure adapted for installation upon the standard types of ice carrying :trucks and :arranged to iascilitate the conveyanceioi ice :blocks to `elevated positions. ,v l

Another object of the invention isthe `provision'lol an :ice loading apparatus'of `axiirextensible character and arranged @tof .be `'lowered when `the ice carrying truck is lemployed in the,it-ransportaztioiiof'iceaind extensible vertically when itis desiredito v efleivztte the ice lfor convenient .lillingiof :refrigerator icar bunkers. 1 Y

-Still Vanother object 'of the` invention lis the provision of an fice :loading :apparatus el the above character embodying an extensible frame and an endless elevating structure 'which .is d-urable and relatively siinple in construction andwh-ich `-.can be operated tli-rougiliwthe .medium lof the truck motor. j

.Other objects and advantagesof the fin-V vention will ybecome appa-rent 'as the description progresses.

In the `aceoinpanying drawings Vforming :a

part oi this Ispecification and in which like reference characters are employed :to -fle'sifgnate corresponding parts throughout the saine: i

ligure l is a .side l-'elevational View oli the assembled apparatus constructed in facsociatedy fWitl-i La` truclr'lbody,

Figure V2 iis a;- rear :elevational vevv of the saine, '5

Figure?, is

cordanoeavitligour invention operatively a'sv p j tangularfraine 24- adapted rto be arrangedv in a view, f'

' Figure '4 is a horizontal sectional lview taken' on the line 4--4 of Figure 2,

y Figure '5 is .an enlargedl verticalsectional view taken on the line 5-'-5 of Figure 2, 1

Figure -6 is a siinilar'vi'ewtakenfon` the line G-G of Figure l, and Y Figure 7 is a similar view taken onV the rf f' Referring to the drawings VW'rliereiin for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of our invention, the numeral l0 designates a conventionalk type of' motor truck body such as is commonly employed for carrying ice for filling refrigerator` cars 'and the like. This body embodies .a pair oi `vertical sideineinbers 11 and a betteln 12sii'pported in eleva-ted position upon-the lchassis beams :i3 by transversely extending channel beaiiiis .14. vThe bottoniV 12 -isioiined.withl a longitudinally extending opening 15` arranged -adjacent the -liorward portion of the body land adjacent n onev side thereof.

Our invention resides primarily in. l'the provision of a vertically extending traine adapted for vdetachable connection with fthe ytruclr body 10. This vtraine ein-bodies I'a lower .stationary framev lsection 16 and :an uppery vertically extensible section 17 vadjust-y able W-irtli, respect to the lower stationary section. lThe llo-Wer stationary section 'eine bodiesiour supporting :uprights 1'8prelier ably orined of :angle iron having their ends rigidly connected tofthe transverse channel:

. beams 14. rA transverse channel beam 19 is secured to the upper ends of .the supporting upi-iglits '18 lat the opposite .sides of the section, as :clearly shown in Figuresfl and 2." S5

: The @upper ladjustable franiexseotionblj.

also embodies four corner v.upriglits #2O of angle iron lfitting .in ythe suppoitinguprights v18 andarranged tor teleseopicsliding. movee ment therein. Y `Both the lovver,station'arysec tion and the upper extensible lfrainesection have their uprights braced by a plurality of horizontally and diagonally extendingxbracfe bars 21. ,Arrangedgupon the upper end of the extensible franiepsec'ti-onfand -firmly `secure'd thereon is a rectangular pla-tforni V22 provided With an `elongated vrectangular opening 23 arranged longitudinally adjacent one outerk edge. llivotally inountedup'on the platform adjacent its rear. edgeis Aa reca vertical position When the 'apparatus is'in when 4the apparatus is not in use.

Arranged kWithin the truck bodyv use as showink Yin Figures land 2,a1ndv`rnov4' f ableto a horizontalposition on the platform.

against one'side thereof and inv vertical aliney l inent Witliftlie opening 23 in the platfoimf22 is an auxiliary guide 'frame 25 embodying Ytour corner uprights 26` and intermediate i y of conveyor chains.

longitudinal.` and transversely extending bars28 to provide a durable and rigid frame. Extending vertically in the intermediate portion of the auxiliary frame and attached to horizontal angle irons-29 are vertical channeled guides 30 adapted to guide the vertical movement ofthe stretches Vchannel irons 32 and also secured to the platforn1,'these latter channel irons slidably engaging the channel irons 30 arranged in the lower auxiliary frame.

From this construction, itis apparent that the upper movable section of the mainframe is'vertically adjustable, the vertical exten- -sion thereof being effected by a means including a horizontal 'shaft 34 journaled in bearings Von angle iron beams 35 extendingv longitudinally of the truck body and secured to the channel beams 14. The shaft 34 carries a gear 36 andfiXed upon the-outer projecting ends of the shaft 34 are drums 37. Arranged parallel with the shaft 34 and adjacent the gear 36 thereon is a second shaft 38, a pinion 39 being fixed on the intermediate portion of the shaft and in mesh with the toothed gear 36.l The outer end of Athe stub shaft 38 carries a-detachable crank handle 40 by means of which the shafts and gears are manually rotated. Secured upon Y the upper ledgesof the channel beams 19 of the lower frame section in a central position arebraclets 41 rotatably supporting rollers over which are trained cables 42. ,One end Yof each cable 42 is secured to the horizontal brace bar 21 at the lower portion of the respective extensible frame section -17 while the opposite end is attachedtoV the 'respectivedrum 37 Thus, by rotatably operating thegears 36 and39, the drums 37 are rotated so as to wind or unwind the cables 42 thereby elevating-or lowering the upper movableV frame section. Inl order that the upper,

movable frame section may be locked in the "desired position of `vertical adjustment, we provide Vpivoted pa'wls 43 upon the angley beams 35 which are engageable with the respective gears 36.` As clearly shown in Figures 2and 6, the shaft 34 extends transversely lof the body and carries a drum 37 onreachend so that the elevating mechanismy is duplicated and arranged at each vside so as to uniformly raise and lower the upper movable section ofthe frame.

Arranged in va 4longitudinal vposition in the bottom of the truck body 10 and disposed centrally in the opening 15 in the bottom thereof is a conveyor operating shaft 44 journaled in bearing brackets 45V and having sprocket gears 46 iiXed adjacent 'its outer ends.u "Ihecshaft 44 is connected by means of a gear train 44 in any suitable manner with the transmission mechanism of lthe vehicle so that the conveyor shaft 44 Amay be operated by the vehicle motor, a suitable clutch mechanism being linterposed in the drive mechanism between the transmission and the shaft yto control the operation of the shaft, this transmitting mechanism not-being illustrated as it forms no part of the present invention. vAn upper conveyor shaft 47 is mounted on the under side of the platform 22, this shaft being journaled in brackets 48 and having sprocket gears 49 secured thereto in vertical alinement with the sprocket gears 46 secured to the lower shaft 44. It will lbe noted,'that the upper shaft 47 is arranged adjacent the inner side of the opening 23, suitable notches being formed'in the platform to accommodate the i gears. Endless conveyor chains 50 are trained over Vthe vertically alined gears and secured to. eachof the chains 50 in uniformly spaced positions and arranged laterally opposite eachother arek carrier lugs or cleats-51 j provided with tapered spurs on their upper horizontal edges for anchoring blocks'of ice [in jgiosition.` Thus', the inner ,stretches ofthe chains coinciding with the side of the opening in the platform and having vertical upward movement serve to elevate the -ice blocks from a positionV in the truck body upwardly onto the platformy 22.

-Pivotally mounted on the platform 22 and Y arranged at 'the outer side of the opening 23 therein'are ajpair ofinwardly curved block tilting arms52 normally. adapted toswing to a downwardsubstantially horizontal position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 and movable to an upwardly'inclined position as llO shown in full lines in this figure to tilt the ice blocks from a vertical position to a hor,- izontal position on the platform. As the ice block is thrown onto the platform, itV will fall on blocks 53 which have inclined upper sides over whichjthe block of ice may slide toward the'zouter edge of the platform. Secured to the inner sideof the truck body ina position opposed to the conveyor chains 50 isv a resilient bumperV 54 j preferably formed of a spring Vsteel bar having lits intermediate portion bowed outwardly to urge cleats; i'

As shown toY advantage inV Figure 1, a

clutch lever 55 is pivotally mounted on the control the movement of the conveyor, a

Vthe ice blocks against the conveyor chains and eifect their engagement with the carrier connecting link 5,6 being -formed with a handle at its outer fend and having` its inner end pivotally connected with the lever to facili-tate its operation; Anotherfeature of theinvention resides in the provision of means :whereby the conveyor chains will be maintained in proper position on the sprockets when the upperframe section 17 is in lowered position, this being effcted by the provision of a horizontal bar. 7 sucpended upon a rod 58 'formed with a hooi; at its lower end adapted to engage in an opening in thel center .of the bar 57 andk threaded atV its upper end. The upper tremity of the rod 58 projects through one of the horizontal angle irons 29 of the auxil-l iary frame and is supported by a nut 59 threaded on the upper end of the rod and provided .with an operating' handle 60. .The ends of the horizontal bar 57 carry hook members 6l engageable with the chains when the extensible` frame is in lowered position. The hooks 6l are suspended onl relatively short chains, there 4b'eingtwo hooks at each end of the bar adapted to engagethe opposite sides of each conveyor chain so lthat when the extensible frame 17 is lowered the lower portions of the chains will be maintained in mesh with the lower sprocket gears 46,

In use, the collapsible frame structure comprising the essential feature of the present invention is securely attached upon th forward portion of an ice carrying motor truck and is collapsed when the vehicle is employed for transporting ice. When it is desirable to load the ice in the compartments or bunkers of refrigerating cars, the

Vextensible section 17 of the frame is ele vated, this being accomplished by the man ual operation of the crank d() causing' the cables 42 arranged at each side of the frame 'to be wound upon the drums 37 and thus cause an upward sliding movement of the extensible section. The clutch lever is then swung into operating position so that the conveyor drive mechanism is operatively connected with the motor truck transmission thereby causing operation of the conveyor structure. Y

To elevate the icev `blocks upon thexplatform and eventually into car bunkers, the blocks are slidably Amoved or edged'into the auxiliary frame structureand forced between the spring,` bumperll `and theconveyor chains. lThe travel of the chains willV cause the carrier lugs 51` to engage the lower edge of the block a d elevate the same to a vertical position upon the platform, where the ice block is overturned ont-o the inclined s ILS y Having thus described our invention, wer claim: f

l, In apparatus for loading,` blocks of ice, an upright'frame, a platform mounted hori- Zontally at'the upper endof the frame and having` an opening through which the blocks of ice may be elevated, elevating mechanism within the frame operable to elevate the blocks vertically along` one-side of the frame Vand through the opening, and means upon` the platform at 'the correspondingside ofv the opening and extending above the open# ing` for o-verturniniF the blocks onto the platform at tn'e other side of the opening` as they l elevated through the opening.

In apparatus for loading blocks of ice, an upright frame, a platform mountedhorizon-tally at the upper end of the frame and provided with anv opening' vthrough which the blocks may be elevated, an endless lelevating means arranged'in upright position within the frame and at one side of the opening of the platform, Vand including lugs for engagement with the bottoms of blocks of ice at one side of said blocks, theframe including guide members opposing the ele` vating mechanism and constituting rests foi the other sides of the blocks to `guide the blocks elevatedby vthe mechanism, land means upon the platform at the opposite side of the opening' kand extending above the same fer overturningthe blocks onto the platform as they are elevated throughthe opening.

Sxn apparatus for loading` blocks of ice,

an upright frame, a vplatform mounted hori zontally at the upper end of the frame andv having an openingtherein, an endless elevating meanswit-liin the frame arranged in upright position at one side thereof with its delivery end presented `at one side of said opening, and including lugs for engagement with the bot-toms of blocks of iceV at one side oflsaid blocks, means the other side of the opening constituting a rest for the othersides vof the blocks .toguide the blocks ofice to be elevated by the mechanism, a yieldable abut-l :ment for the blocks to be elevated mounted near t-he lower portion of the guiding means.`

and opposite the elevating' means whereby to effect positioning of the bloeksin engagement with the elevating means, and means upon the platform at the other side of the opening for delivering, onto theplatform, the blocks elevated through the opening.

+L.' In apparatus for loading blocks of icc, an upright frame, including an upright stationary lower section, ay vertically extensible upright sect-ion mounted therein, means for. adjusting;` the extensible section, a plat'lorm at the upper renel of the extensible sect-ion having an opening;` therein, means within the traine for elevating blocks of ice to and through said opening, and means upon the platform at one side et' the opening` for overturning the blocks onto the platform upon elevation oit the blocks through the opening'.

5. In apparatus torfloading blocks of ice, an upright trame, including anfupright stationery lower section, a vertically extensible upright section mounted therein, means 'tor-Y acljusting therextensible section, a platform et the upper enel of the extensible section having an opening' therein, means for elevating the ice within the frame to and through said opening, the saicl means comprising enclless chains arranged in parallelism and havy ing, one of their stretches located approximately rin'` the verticalV plane of one siclefof the opening, means upon the chains for engaging the bottom ot' a block oil' ice at one side thereof :incl supporting` the block at said side, guidingmeans for the other sicle of the bloel; extending verticallywithin the frame substantially in the piene of the opposite sicle o the opening, upper antl lower pairs of sprockets over which the chains are trained means for rotatino the lower rafirV of sprockets to impart motion to the chains, and means for coactive engagement with the stretches of the chains at n Vpoint intermediate the sprockets to support the chains with their lower, portions in meshI with the lower sprockets during ancl subsequent to the lowering ot the extensible section'of the frame. Y

In testimony whereotl we aliix our 4signatures.

MICHAEL Jennifer, Je FRANCIS e. SIMPSON.. y 

